Folding and stacking machine and control therefor



A118. 1944- J. E; PRESTON 1 2,355,105

FOLDING AND STAUKING MACHINE AND CONTROL THEREFOR I I Filed July 30, 1942 4 Sheets-She et l INVENTOR JoH/v E. PRESTON BY 6 42 M4 ATTORNEYS Aug. 8, 1944. J E PRESTON 2,355,105

' FOLDING AND STACKING MACHINE AND CONTROL THEREFOR FiZ Lsd .July 30, 1942 4 Sheets-Shget 2 INVENTOR JOHN E. PRES TON ATTORNEYS Aug. 8, 1944. J. E. PRESTON 2,355,105

FOLDING AND STACKING MACHINE AND CONTROL THEREFOR Filed July30, 1942 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR 3 Jomv E. Pkssro/v B; BY W ATTORNEY-5 Aug. 8, 1944. J. E. PRESTON 2,355,105

FOLDING AND STACKING MACHINE AND CONTROL THEREFOR 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR JOHN E. PRESTON BY M ATTORNEYS Patented Aug. 8, 1944 UNITED STATES; PATENT OFFICE FOLDING AND STACKIN G MACHINE AND CONTROL THEREFOR Application July 30, 1942, Serial No. 452,827

12 Claims.

This invention relates to machines for folding or stacking fiat articles and to the control system or devices therefor. The invention is an improvement upon the machine shown and described in Letters Patent No. 1,607,407, granted November 16, 1926, to W. F. Mayer for Sheet folding machine, to which reference may be had if desirable or necessary.

While the invention may be employed in the folding or stacking of any kind of flat articles, such as sheets of paper or the like, it is more particularly adaptable for use in handling articles made of more limp textile fabrics, such as linen napkins, tablecloths, sheets, towels or the like, and has so been shown in the drawings and hereafter will so be described, it being understood that the invention is not limited otherwise than as stated in the claims appended hereto.

Referring to the folding of bed sheets as typical of work that may be performed upon these machines, the mechanism of the aforesaid Mayer patent produces a conventional double fold of four layers, with the folds at the quarter point,

. the mid point and the three-quarter point, by

signed for but one length of article. Its operations are invariable and it takes no account of variations in the length of different article's being folded.

One object of the present invention is to provide an improved machine utilizing such a single reciprocating blade but nevertheless self-ac-' commodating to reasonable variations in length of the articles being folded, whereby any article ing rolls. The machine is initially set up or del of any length between the predetermined minimum and maximum may be folded exactly'at its 'quarter and mid points and with its end edges coinciding.

A further object is to provide an improved control system for a folding machine of this type, and particularly a system which is of simple form, which involvesbut few parts not liable to get out of order in service, and which readily may be adjusted or set up to produce and to maintain the production of uniform folding results.

Still another object is to provide a control syslength of each article fed to the machine and arranged to fold the same in a manner and at points determined by or in accordance with its length, by the use of a single reciprocating folding blade of the character described.

Another object is to provide improved means for preventing interference by a following article with the folding operations being performed upon the preceding or leading article. I

Another object is to provide a machine of this kind which by simple changes may be made to either fold the articles fed to it or to stack or pile them without folding,

Still another object is to provide a machine of the character described which, without removal or addition of parts but by mere adjustment or rearrangement thereof, may be made to either fold or stack the work.

Further objects of the invention are in part obvious and in part will appear more in detail hereinafter.

In the drawings Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a folding machine embodying the invention, the

dotted lines illustrating conventionally an ironing machine with which the folding machine is associated;

Fig. 2 is a detail sectional elevation, on a larger scale, on the line 2-2; Fig. 6, illustrating a part of the tripping device;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional elevation on approximately the line 3-3, Fig. 6;

Fig. 4 is a detail sectional elevation on the line tion machine adapted by adjustment for operatom for a machine of this kind including elec-,

tion either as a folding machine or as a stacking machine;

Fig. 10 is a detail view, showing the operating blade of Fig. 9 in its position for performing a folding operation; and

Fig. 11 is a similar view, showing the same blade arranged to perform a stacking operation. Since the folding or stacking machine of the present invention usually is employed with flatwork such as table or bed linen, which is ironed operate together or as a unit, although it will be understood that the ironing machine itself forms no part of the present invention. In Fig. 1 the dotted lines at the left indicate aconventional flatwork ironer including the usual heated platen or chest III with which cooperate padded rolls II, the work being delivered from the machine by means of tapes or belts l2. As shown, the folding machine is placed at the delivery end of the flatwork ironer and one set of tapes or belts l2 of the latter passes through and forms part of the folding machine and, indeed, may constitute the operating driver therefor, although the folding machine may be driven by its own individual motor or other source of power, if desired. The folding machine comprises a frame including side members It, cross connected by tie rods l4 and channels is in rigid form, This frame, near its top, supports two rolls I6, l1, turning on fixed axes, and on its rear supports an adjustable idler roller ii, the tapes or belts l2 being threaded around the several rolls I 5, l1, l8, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, adjustable roll l8 being utilized to take up the slack. On one of its ends the shaft or roll l5, which serves as the drive roll, is provided with a pinion l9 from which an endless chain 20 extends in turn around a pinion M on shaft 22, a pinion 23 on shaft 24, a pinion 25 on shaft 28, and around an adjustable idler pinion 21 on shaft 28, which several shafts and pinions will be later referred to more in detail.

Articles of flatwork, such as sheets, ironed in the flatwork ironer and delivered therefrom by the tapes, are carried by said tapes into the folding machine and are discharged from the tapes over the roll l where the tapes trave1 around it. As each article, one of which is marked A in Fig. 3, leaves the roll l5, it descends in a vertical plane tangent to the roll, as will be readily understood.

The foldingv operation (or the stacking operation to be later described) is performed by the motion of a single blade or bar 90, extending crosswise of the machine or at right angles to the direction of motion of the articles, and which blade is caused to move across the plane in which the article to be folded descends as it leaves the roll 16. That is to say, the said blade normally occupies a position on one side of said plane, to wit, the position in front of said plane shown in dot and dash lines, Fig. 3. At the proper time, as the result of timing mechanism to be described, said blade is caused to move across the plane to its position on the other or rear side thereof, a position indicated in full lines in Fig. 3. This motion is timed to occur so that the front edge of the blade, marked 3|, meets the article at a point located one-quarter of its length from its leading edge, regardless of its length, provided its length is between a predetermined minimum and maximum. While the blade occupies its rear or full line position, Fig. 3, the article continues to be fed, draping itself down below the blade edge 3| as shown. Finally, blade 30 is returned to its original position in front of the said plane. This time its ed e 3| meets the article at a point located three-quarters of its length from its leading edge. The final effect of blade 30 is to introduce the two coinciding folds at the quarter and three-quarter points into a suitable folding device, such as into the bite between a pair of pinching or folding rolls, one of which is a roll 32 mounted upon and driven by the shaft 22 before referred to, and the other of which, marked 33, is an idle roller held by gravity against roll 32 and whose trunnions 34 ride in slots 35 in the side frame members. The effect of these folding rolls is to remove the article from the folding blade and advance it between said rolls to a receivin table Ila upon which it is delivered.

The mechanism for operating the folding blade 30 is asfollows:

Said blade is in plate form with its plane ex- ,tending generally horizontally 'when it is used for folding purposes, as shown in Fig. 3. It is secured at its opposite ends to the arms 38 secured to a shaft 31 mounted to turn in suitable hearings on one of the cross channels i5. One of aid arms 38 forms part of a bell crank lever, the opposite arm 99 of which is provided with -a roller 39 travelling on the peripheral surface of a cam or eccentric 40 forming part of a sleeve 4| loosely rotatable between collars 42 upon the shaft 24, said sleeve having secured thereto an operating arm 49. v

Shaft 24 rotates continuously because driven by the continuously moving chain 20 and its connection to pinion 23. Means is provided for intermittently establishing and breaking a driving connection from the shaft 24 to the sleeve 4| to produce half revolution operation. In other words, when arm 38 is in its normal forward position, shown in dot-dash lines Fig. 3, the parts are so disposed that the low part of eccentric 40 is opposite roller 38, which is held against the eccentric by the tension spring 44. When motion of folding blade 30 across the plane of the descending article is required, the driving connection before referred to is established and main tained until the sleeve 4| has rotated moving the parts to the position shown in full lines Fig. 3, with the roller 39 upon the high part of the eccentric 40. The connection is then broken and sleeve 41 stops. Later the connection is reestablished and again broken to return the blade 30 to its normal position. The control mechanism for causing the half revolution operation of sleeve 4i is as follows:

Arm 43 has pivoted thereto an L-shaped latch device including a, pawl arm 45 an a trip arm 46. The pawl of arm 45 is adapted to cooperate with the teeth of a ratchet wheel 41 secured to rotate with shaft 24. In the normal position of the parts, when blade 30 is stationary, the pawl arm is held out of engagement with the ratchet wheel by a latching portion 48 of an arm 49 pivoted at 50 upon a fixed axis and at its end pivotally connected to the armature 5i of an electromagnet 52. Upon energization 01 said electro magnet arm 49 is moved sufflciently to release the arm 46 from latching portion 48 and permit the pawl arm 45 to be turned by the biasing spring 53 into engagement with the teeth of ratchet 41, whereupon driving relation is established between the ratchet wheel and arm 43, causing the latter, together with the sleeve 4i and the eccentric 40 to turn with shaft 24 in the clockwise direction, Fig. 3. This motion continues until finally, after 180 of rotation, the trip arm 46 engages the latching portion 48a of a second lever 49a located on the other side of shaft 24 and actuated by an electromagnet 52a. This disengages pawl arm 45 from the ratchet wheel 41, so that the driving connection to arm 43 from shaft 24 is broken, and the parts stop. But, in the meantime, by the effect of eccentric 40, arm 36 has been moved to its other position.

Arms 49a and 49 are respectively held in their latching positions against stop pins 54, the former by gravity and the latter by a tension spring 55, To prevent retrograde movement of arm 43.

when it reaches either of its two positions, arms 66, 66a are provided, each biased by a spring 61 to a position engaging a stop pin 51a. As the arm 43 approaches the pawl and ratchet disengag position, the extended end of a pin 68 on said arm engages one or the other of the arms 66, 56a, camming it out of the way, and when the arm 43 finally reaches its stop position one or the other of the arms 56 or 56a drops in behind the pin to a blocking position maintained by the spring 51.

Operation of the aforesaid half revolution clutch mechanism which causes motion of the arms 36 and blade 30 is controlled, in this machine, by electronic time delay relay mechanism, although any mechanism adapted or arranged to produce the proper motion of the folding blade 36, with timing of its motions inaccordance with variations in the length of articles being folded, is suitable for the purpose.

The particular electronic control mechanism here employed is illustrated diagrammatically in Fig. 7. Generally speaking it is of the form illustrated in Fig. 3 of my prior application for Sequence timer and measuring control, filed March 27, 1942, Serial No. 436,465, to which reference may be had, for a description of said Fig. 3 and of the subject matter there illustrated. The control here employed, however, is of simpler form than that illustrated in said prior application, dispensing, as it does, with certain electronic tubes and relays.

The control system shown in Fig. '7 comprises grid controlled electronidischarge tubes 66, 6!, the former of which controls the electromagnet 62 and the latter the electromagnet 52a before referred to. Each of said tubes includes the usual plate P grid G cathode C and heater H. As in said prior application, the cathode grid circuit includes a condenser or capacitance, to-wit, capacitance 62 for tube 66 and 63 for tube 6!, the purpose of which, by variation in its charge, is to adjust or vary the grid potential, by either raising or lowering the same, until it reaches or arrives at a cricital value or cut-ofi point, thereby producing a response in the anode cathode circuit, by rendering the same either conductive or non-conductive.

In the arrangement shown the plate circuit of tube 66 includes a relay magnet 64 which controls a switch 65 adapted to open or close a circuit 66 from the current leads L1, L2 to the electromagnet 52, while the plate circuit of tube 6! includes a corresponding relay magnet 61 for actuating a switch 68 in a circuit 69 from the same leads L1, L2 to the electromagnet 52a.

The plate circuits of both tubes are energized from the secondary of a transformer H whose primary i2 is connected to a suitable source of A. C. current Another secondary 13 of the same transformer is used for changing the capacitances 62, 63, as will appear, while a third secondary l4 energizes the heaters H.

As-before stated, belts i2 operate in both the fiatwork ironer and the folding machine, serving not only as a conveyor or transferring device for the articles to be folded, but also as a driver for the mechanism of the folding machine. These belts travel over a current conducting plate divided into right and left halves 3, 3a, beneath tripping devices which control the circuits of the electrical system. Since two folds are to be produced, two sets of tripping devices are employed, one cooperating with the righthand plate and-the other with the lea-hand plate 30. The tripping devices for one set (that I for producing the first fold) include 9. ourrent conducting plate or bar 4 to which is connected a series of fairly closely spaced trip fin"- gers I (see Figs. 1 and '7) and beyond which is located a single trip finger 2 spaced beyond the fingers i in the direction of travel of the articles, which is from left to right in Fig. 7 as indicated by the arrows B. All of the trip fingers I and 2 normally engage and contact with the plate 3.

The second group of trip devices includes a corresponding plate or bar 4a to which is connected another series of closely spaced trip fingers la, beyond which is located a single trip finger 2a. These fingers la, 2a. all. engage plate 3a.

When condenser 62 is in discharged condition a normal bias is imposed upon the grid G of tube 66, which permits passage of plate current in the tube to energize the coil of relay 64, drawing its armature 65 to position a. This causes energization of solenoid 52. When the condenser 62 is charged, and during the period of its discharge until it has discharged to the preselected critical end point, it imposes a bias of cut-off value upon the tube 60, blocking the fiow of plate current and causing armature 65 to move to its b position, to which it is normally biased.

In like manner condenser 63 effects control of the bias of the grid of tube 6!, accordingas said condenser is charged or is discharged, causing operation of the relay 61 and armature 66 and thus controlling energization and deenergization of solenoid 52a.

Both condensers are charged by voltage originating in the secondary 13. For condenser 62 it is rectified through the cathode and grid of tube 66, and for condenser 63 it is rectified through the cathode and grid of tube 6|. This rectified A. C. voltage is opposed by a D. C. voltage generated by a direct current generator 55, shown in Fig. 1 as driven by a chain 15a from the shaft 26, so that it operates in timed relation with speed of travel of the belts l2 and the articles to be folded. Generator 15 is' of a type having straight line voltage characteristics with relation to speed. Connected, as it is, in opposition to the A. C. voltage from the transformer secondary 13, it produces a resultant charging voltage for the condensers which is in-v versely proportional to the speed of travel of the work, so that for any variation in article speed I to the secondary.

Charging circuit for capacitance 63 is of corresponding character, from the point 18 by wire Tl, cathode and grid of tube 6| to condenser 63, conductor 83, plate 3a, trip finger 2a, conductor 80, generator I5, conductor 8|, voltage divider 82 and back to the secondary.

The discharge circuit for capacitance 62 for that period of the discharge while an article is passing and is in contact with both trips I and Two taps are provided for each of the resistances 84, 9| for use when the control system.

is for a machine adapted for use either for folding or stacking, later to be described, and for convenience the two switches may be ganged for joint operation, as indicated by the dotted lines 92, although this is not essential and the two switches may be operated individually and independently. A typical arrangement of the conducting plates and trips is illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, and 6. The plates 3, 3a are insulated from the frame, as by insulation 93. Bars 4 and 4a.,

to which the spaced trip fingers I and la are connected, and also the trip fingers 2, 2a, are supported by a common cross bar 94, made of insulating material, so that the four sets of trips I, la, 2, 2a are an insulated from each other. The purpose of a multiplicity of each of the trip fingers I, la. will be described hereinafter.

In describing operation of the control system it will be assumed that the machine has been set up with the trip fingers so positioned with respect to each other and with relation to the folding blade 38 as to produce the conventional double fold of four layers upon all articles within a preselected range of article lengths, to-wit, between preselected minimum and maximum lengths. The control has also been provided with condensers and resistors of the proper capacitance and resistance values. Switches 81, 98 are in the position shown in full lines Fig. 7, on the taps 88, 89 respectively. Tap 88 is so located as to produce a rate of discharge "of capacity 82 for the second increment of timing at one and one-third times the first discharge rate, and thereby will cause the first fold to occur along aline one-fourth of the'articles length from its leading edge. Tap 89 on resistor 9| is so located that thedischarge rate of capacitance 83 for the second increment of timing is four times the discharge rate during the first increment. This produces the second fold along a line three-quarters of the article's length from the leading edge.

Considering now a first article fed to the machine, moving from left to right in both Figs. 1 and 7, since contact elements 2 and 2a are in contact with their respective conducting plates, the charging circuits for condensers 82, 83 are both closed and said condensers are maintained fully charged. Plate current flow is blocked in both tubes; the armatures 85, 88 are in b position; and both solenoids 52, 52a are deenergized. Under these conditions the folding blade 30 lies in its forward position shown in dot-dash lines Fig. 3, and the clutch or half revolution mechanism is in a position with the trip finger 48 at the bottom of the mechanism in engagement with the stop lug 48 of arm 49, which is held against its stop 54 by the spring 55, because solenoid 52 is deenergized. I

When the leading edge of the article intercepts all of trips I and 2 condenser 82 begins to discharge, because its charging circuit has been opened at trip 2, and when it intercepts all of trips la and 2a condenser 83 begins to discharge,

because its charging circuit is opened at trip 2a.

The discharge circuit for condenser 82, for this first increment of the measuring and timing operation, is through all of the resistance 84, which is in direct shunt around the capacitance 82 by wires 95, 95a. The'discharge circuit for condenser 83, for this first increment of its measuring and timing operation, is through all of the resistance 9|, which is in direct shunt around capacitance 83 by wires 98, 98a.

When the trailing edge of the article passes the first trip finger and the first trip finger la, the remaining charges in condensers 82 and 83 are discharged respectively at one and one-third times and at four times the rate for the first increment of discharge.

part of resistance 9| to tap 89, switch 90, conductor 98, plate 4a, the first trip finger la, plate 3a and conductor 83 back to the capacitance.

When the capacitance 82 has discharged to its end point normal bias is restored to'the grid of tube 88, which permits flow of plate current in said tube, energizing relay 84, moving its armature over to position a, and energizing solenoid 52, which operates arm 49, produces half revolution operation of the clutch mechanism and causes arms 38 to move folding blade 38 to the full line position, Fig. 3. At this particular instant the article has advanced to such a position that its quarter point (one-fourth from the leading edge) is met by the edge 3| of the blade 30, so that the first quarter of the article is carried to the full line position shown in Fig. 3. This completes the first fold.

To prevent the first portion of the article from shifting its position on the blade while it is moving back or while it is stationary or moving forward, the blade surface may be suitably formed, as by toughening, or it may even be provided with openings through which a suction effect is applied to the work to hold it on the blade, but as shown the blade moves back against a fixed stop 99 (Fig. 3) against which the work is clamped by the blade to hold it until the blade again moves forwardly.

The advancing article continues to descend along the vertical plane, draping itself in front of the edge 3| of the blade 30, until the next folding operation, controlled by tube 8|, occurs, as follows When the condenser 83 discharges to its end point, in the manner before described, normal bias is restored to the grid of tube 8|, which permits the passage of plate current in that tube, energizing relay 81, moving its armature 88 to the a position, and energizing solenoid 52a. This produces a second half revolution operation of the clutch mechanism, causing the arms 38 to move forwardly, carrying the folding blade 38 from its full line toits dot-dash line position, Fig. 3. The advancing edge 3| of said plate engages the article at its three-quarter point (threefourths from its leading edge) and the final effect of the folding blade is to introduce the two folds, at the quarter and three-quarter points, between flow of plate current in the two tubes, causing deenergization of their relays 64, 61, which restoresarms 49, 49a to their holding positions. The trip fingers 2 and 2a are positioned with respect to the folding blade so that this occurs before the trip finger 46 reaches its original stopping position.

The purpose of the multiplicity of spaced contact fingers i and la is to take care of closely following articles and prevent interference by a That by the simultaneous movement of a succeeding 1 article into or through the measuring zone. In other words, when the trailing edge of a leading article passes the first trip finger i or la, as the case may be, contact is established between plates t and 3 and is maintained right up to the time when a following article has succeeding in intercepting all of the trips I or la.

While the drawings show a series of like trip fingers spaced apart, any suitable construction for the purpose may be employed, such as a metallic link chain extending in the direction of travel of the articles and normally lying upon the conducting plate and raised therefrom by the travelling articles; or, the entire unit, comprising either trip fingers l or la, may be in the form of a wire brush or like device.

As before stated, the machine of this invention is adapted for use either in producing a conventional double fold of four layers, or for stacking purposes. In the former case, when the articles are folded, they must be engaged by the blade in both directions of movement, that is, each time the blade crosses the vertical plane in which the article descends. However, when the article is to be stacked, it should be engaged by the blade in only one direction of movement, that is, from its forward to its rearward position.

The return movement of the blade is then useful only to return it preparatory to stacking the next article.

Fig. 8 illustrates a machine adapted for use in stacking only. In all respects it is like that shown in Fig. 3 and heretofore described, excepting only that its arms 36 are provided with a blade a which, in this case, lies in'a vertical plane and over which the articles are draped, usually along their center line, with half on each side, successive articles being stacked or piled on top of each other, although the stacking operation may be performed along other lines than the center line, providing proper resistances are employed.

Assuming that it is desired to stack at the center line, and referring to the control system illustrated in Fig. 7, the switches 81,,5'90 are set in or moved to their second or upper positions,

shown in'dotted lines. Resistance 84 is then divided so that the discharge rate of condenser 82 for the second increment of timing is double'that of the first. This produces movement of the folding blade 30a, as it crosses the vertical plane from front to rear, to engage each article along its center line, regardless of its actual length, so long as it is within the predetermined minimum and maximum. The actual discharge circuit for condenser 62 for both the first and second increments is that heretofore described, with the exception of the difference in position of switch 81. When condenser 82 reaches its end point of discharge relay 64 is closed and the solenoid 52 is energized to effect actuation of the half revolution mechanism and cause rearward blade movement.

In any of the machines shown or described herein, the speed of movement of the blade, once it is initiated, is synchronized with the speed of movement of -the article, as controlled by belts l2, so that when blade movement actually begins the line of the article along which it will be engaged by the blade is actually above the blade edge and they move together to meet each other at the proper point. This operation is taken advantage of, during the return movement of the blade, to prevent actual fold of the second half of the article when the blade is used for stacking.

For example, the part of resistance 9| through which condenser 63 discharges for the second increment of timing, is selected as though to produce an engagement of the article by the blade along a line, only a short distance from its trailing edge, say a distance of the order of oneeighth or one-tenth of itslength. Under such conditions it happens that before such a line could possibly be engaged by the blade the trailing edge of the article will have moved off from the belts i2 and roll it and will drop freely in the vertical plane at a speed greater than the speed of blade movement. Therefore the trailing portion of thearticle passes the blade before it can be engaged thereby and when the blade re turns to its normal or forward position the article has been merely stacked without folding. Under these conditions the discharge circuit of condenser 63 for the second increment of timing is exactly that heretobefore described, differing only in the location or position of switch 90 to select either for folding or for stacking, and readily convertible to either form, the machine illustrated in Fig. 9 is provided with folding rolls 32a, 33a

driven by a chain H0 from the shaft of roll l6, said folding rolls being mounted in a frame Ill pivoted on the axis of roll 86 and movable to .either of the positions shown in full and dottedlines in Fig. 9. In the latter of said positions it is held stable by engagement of its foot H2 with the machine frame and it is moved to the dotted line position when the machine is to be used for stacking. The arms 36 are here provided with a folding blade 30b secured to plate-like segments H3 pivoted at H4 in said arms and adapted to be clamped, by a-clamp screw 5, either in the folding position shown in Fig. 10 or in the stacking position shown in Fig. 11. The control system illustrated in Fig. 7 is here used in its entirety, switches 81 and 90, operating as a gang, being moved to their full line position when the machine is used for folding and to their dotted line position when used for stacking. In the former case, the frame III, with the pinching rolls, is adjusted to the full line position, Fig. 9, and blade 30b to the position shown in Fig. 10, when the machine operates in the same manner as that described in connection with Fig. 3. For stacking, frame Ill and the pinching rolls are adjusted to the dotted line position, Fig. 9, and blade 30b to the position shown in Fig. 11, when the machine will stack without folding.

Of course, fiatwork articles fed to the machine are assumed to be wide enough to extend over and engage the two tripping devices I, 2 and la, 2a, which, as shown in Fig. 6 are spaced laterally on opposite sides of the longitudinal center line. Further, while said tripping devices are shown longitudinally spaced in the diagram Fig. 7, it is to be understood that they may be side by side and that the particular locations of the tripping fingers I, 2, la, 2a, longitudinally of the machine and with reference to the location of the operation performing blade 30, are determined mathematically in accordance with the locations of the desired folds on the article according to the principles described more fully in said prior application heretofore referred to. Again, the invention is not limited to the production of folds at the quarter, mid, and three-quarter points, as folds may be produced at various points located along the article at other proportions of its length, as described in said prior application.

While shown associated with an ironing machine, because that is one suitable and customary arrangement, the machine of the present invention, whether used for folding or stacking, may

, be put to use by itself entirely apart from an ironing machine, or may even be associated with some other type of machine.

The machine herein described, including its control system, is of relatively simple form, involving few parts, not likely to get out of order in service and capable of assembly and setting or adjustment in order to produce accurate folding results. Location of the trip fingers I, 2 and la, 2a

,with respect to each other and to the folding blade, isdetermined according to the principles described more fully in said prior application before'referred to. When properly located, all articles of a length between the predetermined minimum and maximum will be accurately folded at their quarter, mid and three-quarter points, regardless of the length of the tticles, and will be stacked at their mid points or any other preselected points as desired. The control system dispenses entirely with trigger or relay tubes such as employed in said prior application, together with the relays therefor, and the folding operation effected by the control system employed produces two distinct movements of the folding blade, controlled separately and independently of each other, for the two folding operations. Interference with the folding of a leading article by a following article is prevented by the use of improved means, and simple adjustment for use either as a folder or stacker, all without removing orsupplying additional parts.

Other advantages of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

What I claim is 1. Apparatus for performing an operation with respect to a flat article, comprising means for feeding the article along a path, a reciprocating article engaging member movable back and forth across said path, and two independent trip means for controlling said member, each thereof being located and adapted for interception by the article and one thereof being provided with operat- I ing connections to said member for controlling its movement in one direction and the other thereof being provided with operating connections to said member for controlling its movement in the op-' posite direction.

2. Apparatus for handling fiat articles, comprising means for feeding the articles along a path, a transversely extending operating blade the machine is adaptable by movable back and forth across said path, operating means therefor, one controlling trip means for said operating means located to be' intercepted by the moving article and being provided with operating connections to said blade arranged to control article engaging blade movement in the direction, and a second controlling trip means for said operating means also located to be-intercepted by the moving article, said second named trip means being independent of said first named trip means and'being provided with operating connections to said blade arranged to control blade movement in the opposite direction.

3. Apparatus for handling flat articles which vary in length, comprising means for feeding the articles along a path, a transversely extending operating blade movable back and forth across said path, operating means therefor, one controlling trip means for said operating means including at least two spaced trip devices located to be intercepted by the moving article in advance of said blade and sensitive to article length and having operating connections to said blade arranged when the trip devices are intercepted to cause the blade to move in one direction and engage the article at a point located thereon in proportion to its length, and a second controlling trip means also located to be intercepted by the moving article in advance of saidblade, said second named trip means being independent of said first named trip means and having operating connections to said blade arranged when the trip means is intercepted to cause the blade to move in the opposite direction.

4. Apparatus for handling fiat articles which vary in length, comprising means for feeding the articles along a path, a transversely extending operating blade movable back and forth across said path, operating means therefor, one controlling trip means for said operating means including at least two spaced trip devices .located to be intercepted by the moving article in advance of said blade and sensitive to article length and arranged when the trip devices are intercepted to cause the blade to move in one direction and engage the article at a point located thereon in proportion to its length, and a second controlling trip means also including at least two spaced trip devices located to be intercepted by the moving article in advance of said blade and sensitive to article length and having operating connections to said blade arranged when the trip devices are intercepted to cause the blade to move in the opposite direction.

5. Apparatus of the character described, comprising means for moving an article along a path, time delay relay means, means controlled thereby for performing an operation with respect to said article, first and second trip devices spaced along the path of movement of said article in advance of said operation performing means, means operatively connecting said trip devices and relay means and arranged upon interception by an article with both trip devices for initiating operation of said relay means; means thereafter sensitive to the effect of an article upon the first trip device for modifying the operation of said relay means, each trip device including contact devices normally biased to closed positionand an electric circuit associating them with said relay means, said contact devices being moved to open position by each moving article, and the first trip device including a plurality of pairs of contact devices connected in parallel and spaced at intervals along the path of article movement in advance of said operation performing means and thereby arranged to prevent interference by a following article with the performance of van operation upon a leading article.

6. Apparatus of the character described, comprising means for feeding an article along a path, a transversely extending blade, and supporting means for said blade operable to move the same back and forth across said path, said blade being adjustably mounted upon said supporting means for presentation to the article in either of two positions, one for use in folding and the other for use in stacking.

'7. Apparatus of the character described, comprising means for feeding an article along a path, a transversely extending blade, supporting means for said blade operable to move the same back and forth across said path, said blade being ad- ;Iustably mounted upon said supporting means for presentation to the article in either of-two positions, one for use in folding and the other for use in stacking, and folding rolls to which said blade delivers an article when presented edgewise thereto.

8. Apparatus of the character described, comprising means for feeding an article along a path, a transversely extending blade, supporting means for said blade operable to move the same back and forth across said path, said blade being adjustably mounted upon said supporting means for presentation to the article in either of two positions, one for use in folding and the other for use in stacking, folding rolls to which said blade delivers an article when presented edgewise thereto, and adjustable supporting means for said folding rolls by means of which they may be moved into want of operating position.

device for performing such operation, means for producing travel of an article across the path of movement of said device, two independent charged capacitances, two independent control means located and. arranged to be controlled by article travel, each thereof being operatively associated with one of said capacitances for initiating discharge thereof, means rendered eflective by discharge of one capacitance and operatively associated with said device for causing its movement in one direction, and means rendered eflective by discharge of the other capacitance 9. Apparatus for performing an operation with respect to an article, comprising a reciprocating and operatively associated with said device for causing its movement in the opposite direction.

10. Apparatus for performing an operation with respect to an article, comprising a reciprocating operating device, means for feeding articles across the path of movement of said device, actuating means for said' operating device, two independent trip means located and arranged to be controlled by advance of the articles being fed, means operatively associating said actuating means with one trip means for causing movement of said operating device in one direction, and separate means operatively associating said actuating means with the other trip means for causing movement of said operating device in the other direction.

11. Apparatus of the character described, comprising means for moving an article along a path, two independent trip control means adapted to be engaged by the moving article, two independent time delay relay means each including a device cooperatively related to one of said trip means and thereby variously controlled in accordance with variations in the length of different articles travelling in said path, a reciprocating article engaging member movable back and forth across the path of movement of the articles, operating means for actuating said member intermittently by separate impulses to move it first in one direction and then in the other direction, and means connecting said operating means to each of said relay means for independent control thereby, whereby one thereof controls movement of said reciprocating member in one direction and the other othereof controls its movement in the other direction.

12. Apparatus of the character described, comprising means for moving an article along a path, two independent trip control means adapted to be engaged by the moving article, two independent time delay relay means each including a device cooperatively related to one of said trip means and thereby variously controlled in accordance with variations in the length of different articles travelling in said path, a reciprocating article engaging member movable back and forth across the path of movement of the articles, operating means for actuating said member intermittently by separate impulses to move it first in one direction and then in the other direction, means connecting said operating means to each of said relay means for independent control thereby, whereby one thereof controls movement of said reciprocating member in one direction and the other thereof controls its movement in the other direction, and means for adlusting each of said relay means forvarylng the time delay thereof and the response of said operating means thereto.

JOHN E. PRESTON. 

